Title: Russian and Belarusian athletes authorized to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but under a neutral banner
Introduction :
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. However, this participation is subject to certain strict conditions, in particular that of competing under a neutral banner. This decision follows the war in Ukraine, which created political tensions between these countries. Russia criticized these measures, deeming them discriminatory.
Conditions of participation:
According to the IOC, only “neutral individual” athletes who have successfully qualified will be allowed to participate. Additionally, they must not actively support the war in Ukraine and must not be under contract with the military or national security agencies. For the moment, eleven athletes meet these criteria, eight Russians and three Belarusians.
Russia’s reactions:
Russia reacted strongly to the decision, calling it discriminatory and contrary to sporting principles. Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin denounced these measures and stressed that Russian athletes participating in the 2024 Olympics “will probably participate”, but not in the discipline of athletics. This position is in agreement with the International Athletics Federation, which maintains its refusal to reinstate Russian athletes.
Concern for the Ukrainian delegation:
The presence of Russian athletes under a neutral banner poses political problems, particularly with regard to the Ukrainian delegation. Several Ukrainian athletes qualified for the Paris Games, and the prospect of an absent or weakened Ukrainian delegation would have been delicate. Acting Ukrainian Sports Minister Marviy Bidnyi expressed distrust of Russian athletes, but did not raise the possibility of a boycott.
Conclusion :
The IOC’s decision to authorize the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games under a neutral banner reflects current political tensions. Despite criticism from Russia, the IOC maintains its strict conditions to ensure that neutral individual athletes respect the Olympic principles. This delicate situation between conflict and the autonomy of sport raises questions about a possible boycott or the participation of the Ukrainian delegation. The coming months will allow us to see how this issue will be resolved.